6 Creative Tips for Parents of Picky Eaters

I'm one of those adventurous people—I've always been willing to try any new food at least once. (Within reason—I don't do insects and liver!) I'm especially adventurous when it comes to vegetables. The presentation of color, texture, and even smell rarely dissuades me.

Because of my willingness to eat a pungent mystery food, I was cautiously optimistic that my eight children would follow in my footsteps—or should I say palate?—and give most foods a try.

Forget it!

When I became a mom and had three kids with sensory issues who couldn't tolerate certain textures, I discovered a whole new world of food pickiness. I had to get creative to make sure my kids ate healthy foods, and I can honestly say it wasn't always easy.

RELATED: 12 Tips to Get Your Picky Toddler to Eat

Eight kids and 25 years later, I've learned a few tricks to help entice even the pickiest taste buds. Today I have six helpful tools to help the fussy eaters in your household expand their culinary horizons and try new foods.

1. Give up the power struggle

My number-one tool to ease your journey with a picky eater might surprise you. Are you ready? It's you!

As parents, we'll do anything to make sure our kids feed our kids nutritious foods. We prepare leafy green salads and whole grain pasta topped with fresh veggies and low-salt marinara sauce, opt for the leanest proteins, and even encourage dairy alternatives like almond milk.

But what do we do when our best efforts don't cut it with our kids?

No, we don't force them to eat what we've made. We do the opposite—let them decide if they'll give it a try.

It's perfectly normal for kids to be unsure of new foods.

Dina Rose, PhD, a sociologist and author of It's Not About the Broccoli, sets us straight by stating, "A lot of the time it's a control struggle, not forcing them to eat the last two bites of green beans." In an NBC news article about kids who are picky eaters, she stressed that kids are wise to the fact that mealtime is something their parents care about. But Rose says that it's perfectly normal for kids to be unsure of new foods. Nutrition science research, she said, shows that it can take kids up to 12 exposures to a new food before they decide if it's something they like.

The next time your little angel wants nothing to do with the veggie...

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